Organizational Modes and Environmental Conditions of the Severe Convective Weathers Produced by the Mesoscale Convective Systems in South China

Composite radar reflectivity data during April-September 2011-2015 are used to investigate and classify storms in south China(18-27°N;105-120°E). The storms appear most frequently in May. They are either linear;cellular or nonlinear systems, taking up 29.45%, 24.51% and 46.04%, respectively, in terms of morphology. Linear systems are subdivided into six morphologies: trailing stratiform precipitation(TS), bow echoes(BE), leading stratiform precipitation(LS), embedded line(EL), no stratiform precipitation(NS) and parallel stratiform precipitation(PS). The TS and NS modes have the highest frequencies but there are only small samples of LS(0.61%) and PS(0.79%) modes.Severe convective wind(≥17m s-1at surface level) accounts for the highest percentage(35%) of severe convective weather events produced by cellular systems including individual cells(IC) and clusters of cells(CC). Short-duration heavy rainfall(≥50 mm h-1) and severe convective wind are the most common severe weather associated with TS and BE modes. Comparison of environmental physical parameters shows that cellular convection systems tend to occur in the environment with favorable thermal condition, substantial unstable energy and low precipitable water from the surface to300 hPa(PWAT). However, the environmental conditions favoring the initiation of linear systems feature strong vertical wind shear, high PWAT, and intense convective inhibition. The environmental parameters favoring the initiation of nonlinear systems are between those of the other two types of morphology.

Organizational Modes of Severe Wind-producing Convective Systems over North China

Severe weather reports and composite radar reflectivity data from 2010-14 over North China were used to analyze the distribution of severe convective wind（SCW） events and their organizational modes of radar reflectivity. The six organizational modes for SCW events（and their proportions） were cluster cells（35.4%）, squall lines（18.4%）, nonlinear-shaped systems（17.8%）, broken lines（11.6%）, individual cells（1.2%）, and bow echoes（0.5%）. The peak month for both squall lines and broken lines was June, whereas it was July for the other four modes. The highest numbers of SCW events were over the mountains, which were generally associated with disorganized systems of cluster cells. In contrast, SCW associated with linear systems occurred mainly over the plains, where stations recorded an average of less than one SCW event per year. Regions with a high frequency of SCW associated with nonlinear-shaped systems also experienced many SCW events associated with squall lines. Values of convective available potential energy, precipitable water, 0-3-km shear, and 0-6-km shear, were demonstrably larger over the plains than over the mountains, which had an evident effect on the organizational modes of SCW events. Therefore, topography may be an important factor in the organizational modes for SCW events over North China.

Prediction and Early Warning Indicators of Short-term Severe Convection Weather in Ulanqab City

Based on the disaster reports,NCEP2.5X2.5 reanalysis data and radiosonde data of 11 national stations in Ulanqab region from June to August during 2012-2017,the weather situation classification and warning indicators of thunderstorm and gale,hail and short-term heavy rainfall were studied.The results show that the cold vortex weather situation was easy to produce hail,and the falling area of severe convection could be found in the downstream of the cold vortex,the intersection area of jet stream at 200 and 500 hPa,and the wet area side of the 700 hPa main line.The cold trough type weather situation was easy to produce thunderstorm and gale,and the falling area of severe convection appeared on the right side of the upper jet stream axis,the left side of the lower jet stream axis,the wet side of the 700 hPa main line,and the east of the shear line at 700 hPa.The weather situation of the low trough and subtropical high type was dominated by short-term rainstorm,and the falling area of severe convection was on the right side of upper jet stream at 200 hPa,the left side of the low southeast jet stream,and the wet side of the 700 hPa main line.The warning index thresholds of the total index,the temperature change at 850-500 hPa with height,the height of 0 and-20℃layer,lifting condensation height,temperature dew point difference and mixing ratio were highly reliable.

Classified Early Warning and Forecast of Severe Convective Weather Based on LightGBM Algorithm

Severe convective weather can lead to a variety of disasters, but they are still difficult to be pre-warned and forecasted in the meteorological operation. This study generates a model based on the light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM) algorithm using C-band radar echo products and ground observations, to identify and classify three major types of severe convective weather (i.e., hail, short-term heavy rain (STHR), convective gust (CG)). The model evaluations show the LightGBM model performs well in the training set (2011-2017) and the testing set (2018) with the overall false identification ratio (FIR) of only 4.9% and 7.0%, respectively. Furthermore, the average probability of detection (POD), critical success index (CSI) and false alarm ratio (FAR) for the three types of severe convective weather in two sample sets are over 85%, 65% and lower than 30%, respectively. The LightGBM model and the storm cell identification and tracking (SCIT) product are then used to forecast the severe convective weather 15 - 60 minutes in advance. The average POD, CSI and FAR for the forecasts of the three types of severe convective weather are 57.4%, 54.7% and 38.4%, respectively, which are significantly higher than those of the manual work. Among the three types of severe convective weather, the STHR has the highest POD and CSI and the lowest FAR, while the skill scores for the hail and CG are similar. Therefore, the LightGBM model constructed in this paper is able to identify, classify and forecast the three major types of severe convective weather automatically with relatively high accuracy, and has a broad application prospect in the future automatic meteorological operation.

Hazard Analysis of Severe Convective Weather in Guangdong Province, China

In the present study,a hazard model of severe convective weather was constructed on the basis of meteorological observational data obtained in Guangdong Province between 2003 and 2015.In the analysis,quality control was first conducted on the severe convective weather data,and the kriging method was then used to interpolate each hazard-formative factor.The weights of which were determined by applying the coefficient of variation method.The results were used to establish the hazard-formative factor model of severe convective weather.The cities showing the greatest hazards for severe convective weather in Guangdong Province include Yangjiang,Dongguan,Foshan,Huizhou,Jiangmen,and Qingyuan.

Analysis on a Severe Convective Weather Process of Guangxi in 2018

Based on conventional meteorological observation data and Doppler radar data,the occurrence and development mechanism of mixed severe convective weather and evolution of convective storm in Guangxi on March 4,2018 were analyzed. The results showed that the dry line was the main trigger mechanism of this severe convective weather. Instable convection stratification of cold advection at middle layer and warm advection at low layer and abundant water vapor from low-level jet provided favorable stratification and water vapor conditions for the occurrence and development of severe convection. Cold trough at middle layer,low pressure and strong vertical wind shear at middle and lower layers may be main factors for the development and maintenance of strong storm system. Squall line developed along ground convergence line,and there was bow echo on reflectivity factor chart. Moving velocity of convective system was quick,and there was gale core and velocity ambiguity on velocity map.

Simulation of Quasi-Linear Mesoscale Convective Systems in Northern China：Lightning Activities and Storm Structure

Two intense quasi-linear mesoscale convective systems（QLMCSs） in northern China were simulated using the WRF（Weather Research and Forecasting） model and the 3D-Var（three-dimensional variational） analysis system of the ARPS（Advanced Regional Prediction System） model.A new method in which the lightning density is calculated using both the precipitation and non-precipitation ice mass was developed to reveal the relationship between the lightning activities and QLMCS structures.Results indicate that,compared with calculating the results using two previous methods,the lightning density calculated using the new method presented in this study is in better accordance with observations.Based on the calculated lightning densities using the new method,it was found that most lightning activity was initiated on the right side and at the front of the QLMCSs,where the surface wind field converged intensely.The CAPE was much stronger ahead of the southeastward progressing QLMCS than to the back it,and their lightning events mainly occurred in regions with a large gradient of CAPE.Comparisons between lightning and non-lightning regions indicated that lightning regions featured more intense ascending motion than non-lightning regions;the vertical ranges of maximum reflectivity between lightning and non-lightning regions were very different;and the ice mixing ratio featured no significant differences between the lightning and non-lightning regions.

Synoptic Pattern and Severe Weather Associated with the Wide Convection over Southeast China During the Summer Monsoon Period

Based on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission（TRMM） precipitation radar observations, wide convection（WC） is defined as contiguous convective echoes over 40 d BZ, accompanied with a near surface rainfall area exceeding 1000 km^2. In Southeast China, the maximal occurrence frequency of WC takes place over the flat land region in the central plain of East China during the summer monsoon period of 1998–2010. When WC occurs in this region, the 500-h Pa atmospheric fields are categorized into three patterns by using an objective classification method, i.e., the deep-trough-control（DTr） pattern, the subtropical-highmaintenance（STH） pattern, and the typhoon-effect（Typh） pattern, which respectively accounts for 20.8%,52.8%, and 26.4% of the total WC occurrences. The DTr pattern starts to emerge the earliest（16–31 May）and occurs the most often in the second half of June; the STH pattern has a significant occurrence peak in the first half of July; the Typh pattern occurs mostly in July and August.Nearly all WC occurrences in this region are associated with thunderstorms, due to large convective available potential energy and abundant moisture. Among the three synoptic patterns, the DTr pattern features the driest and coldest air in the region, leading to the least occurrences of short-duration heavy rainfall. Strong winds occur the most often under the DTr pattern, probably owing to the largest difference in air humidity between the mid and low troposphere. Hail at the surface is rare for all occurrences of WC,which is probably related to the humid environmental air under all weather patterns and the high（〉 5 km）freezing level under the STH pattern.

Initiation,organizational modes and environmental conditions of severe convective wind events during the warm season over North China

Based on the significant weather report,CG lightning,composite radar reflectivity,and ERA5 reanalysis data,we first studied the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of four types(only severe convective wind(SCW);SCW and hail;SCW and short-duration heavy rainfall(SDHR);and SCW,hail,and SDHR)of convective weather events related to SCW during the warm season(May to September)from 2011 to 2018 in North China.Second,severe convective cases producing SCW were selected to statistically analyze the initiation,decay,lifetime,and organizational characteristics of convective systems.Finally,using ERA5 reanalysis data and conventional surface observation data,preconvective soundings were constructed to explore the differences in environmental conditions for initiating convective systems between SCW and non-SCW.The results indicate that mixed-type of SCW and SDHR events occur more frequently over plains,while other types of convective weather occur more frequently over mountains.The frequency peak of SCW occurs in June,while mixed convective weather peaks in July.The initiation time of convective systems is concentrated between 1000 and 1300 BST,with a peak at 1200 BST.Over mountains,the daily peaks of ordinary and significant SCW generally occur at 1700-1800 BST and 1600-1700 BST,respectively,while over plains,the peak of ordinary SCW typically lags behind that of mountains by 1-2 hours.Additionally,SCW systems are mainly initiated over mountains,with most lifetimes lasting 7–13 hours.Nonlinear convective systems produce the most SCW events,followed by trailing-stratiform convective systems.The convective available potential energy(CAPE),downdraft convective available potential energy,and the temperature difference between 850 and 500 hPa can all distinguish between SCW systems and non-SCW systems occurring over plains.Compared to non-SCW convective systems,SCW convective systems over mountains are more likely to occur in environments with less precipitable water,while SCW convective systems over plains are more likely to occur in environments with higher CAPE and stronger deep-layer wind shear.

Advances in Severe Convection Research and Operation in China

This article reviews the advances in severe convection research and operation in China during the past several decades.The favorable synoptic situations for severe convective weather(SCW),the major organization modes of severe convective storms(SCSs),the favorable environmental conditions and characteristics of weather radar echoes and satellite images of SCW and SCSs,and the forecasting and nowcasting techniques of SCW,are emphasized.As a whole,Chinese scientists have achieved a profound understanding of the synoptic patterns,organization,and evolution characteristics of SCW from radar and satellite observations,and the mechanisms of different types of convective weather in China.Specifically,in-depth understanding of the multiple types of convection triggers,along with the environmental conditions,structures and organization modes,and maintenance mechanisms of supercell storms and squall lines,has been obtained.The organization modes and climatological distributions of mesoscale convective systems and different types of SCW,and the multiscale characteristics and formation mechanisms of large hail,tornadoes,downbursts,and damaging convective wind gusts based on radar,satellite,and lightning observations,as well as the related features from damage surveys,are elucidated.In terms of operational applications,different types of identification and mesoanalysis techniques,and various forecasting and nowcasting techniques using methods such as the"ingredients-based"and deep learning algorithms,have been developed.As a result,the performance of operational SCW forecasts in China has been significantly improved.

Progress in Severe Convective Weather Forecasting in China since the 1950s

Located in the Asian monsoon region, China frequently experiences severe convective weather(SCW), such as short-duration heavy rainfall(SDHR), thunderstorm high winds, hails, and occasional tornadoes. Progress in SCW forecasting in China is closely related to the construction and development of meteorological observation networks,especially weather radar and meteorological satellite networks. In the late 1950 s, some county-level meteorological bureaus began to conduct empirical hail forecasting based on observations of clouds and surface meteorological variables. It took over half a century to develop a modern comprehensive operational monitoring and warning system for SCW forecast nationwide since the setup of the first weather radar in 1959. The operational SCW forecasting, including real-time monitoring, warnings valid for tens of minutes, watches valid for several hours, and outlooks covering lead times of up to three days, was established in 2009. Operational monitoring and forecasting of thunderstorms,SDHR, thunderstorm high winds, and hails have been carried out. The performance of operational SCW forecasting will be continually improved in the future with the development of convection-resolving numerical models(CRNMs), the upgrade of weather radar networks, the launch of new-generation meteorological satellites, better understanding of meso-γ and microscale SCW systems, and further application of artificial intelligence technology and CRNM predictions.

我国大气电学研究的最新进展

大气电学主要研究地球大气和近地空间发生的电学过程及其机理和影响,其核心研究内容是雷电物理和雷暴电学。自1980年代以来,中国大气电学研究不断取得新的进展,特别是近年来,得益于高时间分辨率雷电探测技术的进步,大气电学研究不仅在雷电物理学和雷暴云电荷结构方面取得了重要成果,也在雷电和雷暴对近地空间的影响、强对流天气的雷电特征、以及雷电资料同化和预警预报等方面取得了重要进展。本文从六个方面对近五年来大气电学的主要研究进展进行回顾,包括高精度雷电探测和定位技术、雷电物理过程和机制、雷暴对中上层大气的影响、雷暴云电荷结构的观测和数值模拟、强对流天气的雷电特征与预报、雷电对气候变化的影响与响应等,最后对大气电学未来发展进行展望。

2024年2月17—23日中国大范围强寒潮雨雪冰冻强对流过程涉及的若干问题

2024年2月中下旬我国出现一次多灾种高影响天气过程。这是一次几十年一遇的过程,出现了大范围强寒潮雨雪冰冻天气并伴随强对流发生,涉及到强寒潮、沙尘、降雨、降雪、冻雨,以及强对流和伴随的大冰雹和雷暴大风,多种高影响天气在一次过程中都有所呈现,其过程之复杂异常罕见。本文针对此次过程中值得深入探讨的问题、高影响天气发生发展可能机理、相应的预报挑战等进行简要梳理,为后续对此次过程的细致和深入分析研究做一个引子。

地基微波辐射计露点温度廓线估算方案及初步应用

面向业务和台站实际,针对露点温度直接和间接计算经验公式的不确定性,结合地基微波辐射计LV2级数据特征,开展了露点温度估算方案适用性及应用讨论,旨在为预报员提供高时空分辨率的基础物理量露点温度来判识大气饱和程度,服务于强对流天气预报预警分析。研究表明:(1)相对湿度是主导露点温度直接和间接计算公式计算结果差异的敏感因子。地基微波辐射计露点温度估算方案可为相对湿度小于50%时,采用直接计算公式;相对湿度为50%~99%时,采用间接计算公式;相对湿度为100%(饱和)时,温度大于-48.75℃,采用间接计算公式,温度小于-48.75℃,采用直接计算公式。(2)地基微波辐射计估算的露点温度产品精度保持了温度产品的高相关性,较大程度上改善了系统偏差,但离散程度略有扩大。其中,相关系数由0.99变成0.98,降低了0.01;系统性偏差由-3.18℃变成-0.98℃,缩小了2.2℃;均方差由4.92℃变成5.26℃,扩大了0.34℃。(3)相较相对湿度,估算的露点差对高湿区(相对湿度大于70%以上)较为“敏感”,能很好地“勾勒”出云等水凝物内部水汽饱和状态及其特征结构,便于用户判断出饱和区、非饱和区及两者过渡区;与地基微波辐射计直接测量产品联合,可监测强对流天气发生前、中、后水凝物垂直结构特征及其演变,便于天气预报预警,其中预警提前量可达0.5~1.0 h,降水结束预报提前量接近10 min。

融合物理理解与模糊逻辑的分类强对流客观短期预报系统:(1)系统构成

提供准确的雷暴、短时强降水、雷暴大风和冰雹客观短期预报产品,对提高预报预警的预见期,及早采取有针对性的预防措施有重要意义。基于对四类强对流天气现象物理成因理解,给出了由国家气象中心牵头研发,融合模糊逻辑人工智能方法的分类强对流客观短期概率预报系统的流程框架和实现方法,详细介绍了该系统的结构特征,以及系统中用于雷暴、短时强降水、雷暴大风和冰雹四类强对流天气预报模型构建的关键预报因子、隶属度函数获取方法和权重因子配置等信息,并在此基础上探讨了物理理解与模糊逻辑人工智能相融合方法具有广泛适用性的本质,可以表征产生特定强对流天气现象的环境配置的多样性和复杂性。

联合同化闪电资料和地面常规观测资料对强对流天气预报的影响

以2017年6月16日发生在广东省的一次中尺度对流过程为例,利用WRF模式对中尺度对流系统进行模拟,分析了联合同化闪电和地面常规观测资料较单独同化其中一种资料的改进作用。闪电资料通过WRF-FDDA系统以15 min作为一个闪电累积窗口被连续同化入模式中,地面常规观测资料通过WRFDA-3DVAR系统以1 h间隔循环同化入模式中。结果显示,相比于只同化地面常规观测资料,联合同化试验中闪电资料的引入提高了背景场中上升气流、冷池和阵风锋的准确度;相比于只同化闪电观测资料,地面常规观测资料的引入减小了更大范围的温度、水汽、风场的背景场误差,抑制了部分地区的虚假对流,即两种资料的联合同化整体上提高了对流系统的模拟准确度。预报技巧评分结果显示,联合同化对同化期和预报期的评分也有一定程度的提高。

鄱阳湖影响过湖对流强度的数值模拟及机理分析

湖陆下垫面的非均匀性对强对流天气的发展演变有很大的影响。鄱阳湖是我国最大的淡水湖,湖面积具有明显的月变化和季节变化,而模式中的下边界一般默认湖面积不变,这与实际情况的差异较大,必然带来模式预报误差。利用WRF模式对夏季夜间发生在鄱阳湖地区的一次强对流天气过程进行数值模拟,并通过湖面积变化的敏感性试验,深入研究鄱阳湖对强对流天气发展演变的影响及其机理,结果表明:夏季夜间湖面上空2 m温度明显高于陆面,向湖陆风在湖面上空辐合上升,岸边则存在下沉辐散气流。这导致降水在湖西岸减弱、湖上空增强。随后用去湖敏感性试验印证了鄱阳湖的暖湖效应,湖泊的存在能够通过激发陆风次级环流对湖西岸(湖面)上空降水起抑制(促进)作用。去湖试验的降水在湖西岸增强20%,在湖面上空减弱16%,体现出湖泊对降水强度的重要影响。此外,还发现湖面积扩大1.5、2.5、3.5、4.0倍的扩湖敏感性试验的降水在湖面上空分别增幅7%、16%、30%、43%,进一步证实了强对流强度对鄱阳湖面积变化较为敏感。这指示我们在预报夏季夜间穿湖而过的强对流天气时,应重点关注其可能存在的入湖前减弱、入湖后增强的变化趋势。同时,在利用数值模式模拟湖区强对流天气过程时,如果湖面积与模式中默认的湖面积相差较大,则应考虑将实际湖面积引入模式下边界,以期提升模式对于湖区对流的预报能力。

2022年陇南“4·19”强对流天气成因及其对配电线路故障的影响分析

配电线路长期暴露于自然环境下,易受强对流天气影响而发生故障。2022年4月19日午后,受大风、雷电等高影响天气影响,陇南市13条配电线路先后出现故障。利用陇南市自动气象观测站的极大风速和闪电定位数据以及风云4A(FY-4A)红外云图、探空资料、多普勒天气雷达等资料,对此次强对流天气过程及其对电网影响进行分析。结果表明:(1)此次强对流天气以雷电、雷暴大风天气为主,西和、礼县、武都、康县等县(区)出现大面积用户停电和电力负荷损失等不利影响。(2)强对流发展主要受高原槽和切变线共同影响,在“上冷下暖”的大气层结不稳定条件下,由地面辐合线触发较强的雷暴大风天气;卫星云图和雷达回波也显示对流云团的发生发展与地面雷暴大风相吻合。(3)陇南市配电线路故障范围分布与强对流天气发生时间和过境路径基本一致,利用逐10 min极大风速和闪电定位数据,探讨得出当极大风速值超过15.0 m·s^(-1)、或正地闪电流强度超过43 k A、或负地闪电流强度超过26 k A时,配电线路发生故障的可能性较大。

2021年宁夏两次持续沙尘重污染天气对比分析

为探究气象条件变化对宁夏沙尘重污染天气过程的影响特征,利用常规气象观测数据、NCEP再分析资料及环境空气质量数据,选取2021年1月11-14日和2021年3月14-19日两次沙尘重污染天气(分别简称“0113”过程和“0315”过程)为研究对象,基于天气形势、后向轨迹模拟及物理量场诊断等方法,对比两次过程影响系统及传输轨迹,探讨形成和维持机制.结果表明:①“0113”过程主要影响宁夏北部四市,“0315”过程影响整个宁夏,两次沙尘过程中重度及以上污染平均持续时间分别为35.0和105.2h,沙尘污染暴发阶段PM_(10)浓度平均值分别为1735和5265μg/m3.②“0113”过程为一次强度一般的锋面过境引起的沙尘重污染天气,稳定少动的青藏高压与其北侧蒙古热低压之间形成显著的气压梯度带,高空脊前多股强西北气流引起动量下传,使宁夏及上游地区大风将沙尘输送至宁夏造成重污染;“0315”过程为一次较强的典型锋面过境及蒙古气旋造成的持续沙尘重污染天气,蒙古冷高压受强盛蒙古气旋和青藏高原热低压夹击稳定少动,其西南、东南及东部与两个热低压形成气压梯度带,加之受地面冷锋过境影响,宁夏及周边地区多方向大风将沙尘向宁夏上空输送造成“0315”过程较“0113”过程污染更严重.③两次过程中沙尘均为境外和境内同时输送,“0113”过程为西北和偏西路径,传输距离长且高度较低;“0315”过程为西北、偏北和偏东路径,传输距离短且高度较高.④“0315”过程中蒙古国及我国新疆-甘肃一带负水平螺旋度中心值为“0113”过程的1.75倍,较强的辐合上升运动和西风气流将沙尘持续向宁夏上空输送并与本地沙尘叠加,上升和下沉运动交替使沙尘长时间悬浮于空中,而“0113”过程受多股强下沉气流造成沙尘迅速沉降至地面,污染快速减弱.研究显示:冷锋和蒙古气旋是宁夏沙尘重污染天气的主要影响系统,当有只冷锋过境时,上游沙尘传输高度低,到达宁夏上空沙尘粒子相对少,使宁夏沙尘重污染天气持续时间短且强度相对较弱;当伴有蒙古气旋活动时,沙尘传输高度高,到达宁夏上空沙尘粒子多,使宁夏沙尘重污染天气持续时间长、影响范围广且强度较强.